‘The way he has prepared’: India coach explains key to Padikkal’s maiden century
Devdutt Padikkal scored an unbeaten 131 on his maiden international century. His improved back-foot game was credited by batting coach Sitanshu Kotak. Padikkal adapted well to Sri Lanka's spin-heavy bowling attack. KL Rahul also contributed significantly before retiring hurt from the match. Sri Lanka's coach praised both Indian batters for their performances.
India's batting coach Sitanshu Kotak praised Devdutt Padikkal's meticulous preparation and enhanced back-foot technique as the primary factors behind the left-hander's impressive 131-ball century on day one of the first Test against Sri Lanka. Padikkal, who batted at No. 3, set India a solid foundation with a score that brought the team to 288 for two at stumps.
Kotak attributed Padikkal's success to the work he had done on his back-foot game during his preparations at the BCCI Centre of Excellence, along with developing his options against spin deliveries.
The Indian coach highlighted that Padikkal's ability to move back and create space, combined with occasional use of the sweep and charge down the track, helped him keep Sri Lanka's bowlers from settling. Additional focus was given to step-out shots and sweeps alongside the back-foot game. Padikkal's innings demonstrated the fruits of his dedication, as he primarily played off the back foot but was also willing to step out when necessary to dominate the spinners.
The 26-year-old's performance has also sparked debate about India's batting lineup, particularly with regular No. 3 Sai Sudharsan recovering from a toe injury. Kotak emphasized the team's flexibility in batting positions, focusing more on players' adaptability to match conditions than strict batting orders. Sri Lanka's spin and fielding coach Jordan Gregory commended Padikkal's superb performance, alongside teammate KL Rahul, who managed to put pressure on the Indian batters despite getting injured.
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